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Ancient Trees Organic Pu-erh

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About this tea

Tea Story

Tucked into the mountains of southwest Yunnan is a forest of towering, semi-wild tea plants. The locals here have been making organic Pu-erh tea from these old-growth tea trees for many generations. The unique shape of the finished product is called Tuo Cha or “bowl tea”, achieved by traditional pile-fermenting, pressing and drying techniques.

Brewing Tips

Place one unwrapped tuo cha piece in a 12-oz. to 16-oz. teapot.
Rinse the tea with a small amount of boiling water to mellow its character, and to preheat the pot. Discard rinse water.
Steep tea covered in boiling water for 5 minutes.
Strain the leaves while pouring.
Pu-erh leaves can be steeped a second time, for a pot just as delicious as the first.

Pu-erh tea has to be brewed properly. Google "gong fu ceremony" to learn about the full-blown ceremony, but the trick is that you steep it for a very short time. You get several steepings out of a single batch of leaves.

The general process is to put about 25g of tea in a very small pot. Add maybe a cup of water (if that---enough to cover the leaves once they puff up). The first steeping is only 10 seconds or so, the second a bit longer (15 seconds, maybe), the third longer still (30 seconds), and so forth. After steeping, immediately pour off the tea into cups or a separate pitcher. If the tea is at all bitter, you're letting it sit on leaves too long.

Sonny Forest, drinking Peet's since 20124/4/13

Monterey, CA

The most bizarre tea I've ever had. It brews blacker than coffee, it has an aroma reminiscent of compost and low-tide, and it's tastes very little like tea at all. The flavor is very complex, dirty, earthy, and dry, and very hard to palette without sugar. After I drank it in the morning I felt like I smelt of its fishy stench all day.

Echarles19/23/12

Mountain View, CA

A very smooth tea with not a hint of bitterness. But it is not really the tea for me. It is if anything too inoffensive. However, if you want a tea that is silky and soft it is quite good indeed.

Bryce3/27/12

Buffalo Gap, TX

The most unique tea I have tasted. As others have remarked, it has a very earthy and sweet taste. Not bitter in the slightest. The only tea I've ever had that tastes as good after a second steeping as it did on the first.

Nancy, drinking Peet's since 197310/4/11

Berkeley, CA

A rich, satisfying brew. One pellet, 6 or 7 grams each, brews a 20 oz pot, and does well with a second steep. I like mine with milk, and the flavor shines through with a mellow, earthy, sweet taste. One can cut the pellets in half, using 3 grams per day for almost a month's supply of morning brew.

John, drinking Peet's since 199910/12/10

Downingtown, PA

Without a doubt my favorite Peet's tea! I must admit that, at first, I was a bit put off by its bold, onyx coloring; very unorthodox for a tea! However, it was, and remains, the best tasting cup I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The flavor is very earthy and smooth. I add a tsp of honey along with a bit of cream, which gives it a reddish hue. Excellent! I'm a Peetnik and I have a tendency of changing my order from time to time. However, the one thing that I order every time, and always will, is Ancient Trees.

This tea always surprises me, and anyone I serve it to! This tea is unlike anything I had seen before. The tea leaves are pressed into a tablet and expand upon brewing. It brews very dark and looks intimidating, but as soon as you sip its brew you will discover its rich, smooth, nutty flavor! I drink this tea straight without anything added, and I am able to rebrew the same leaves several times! This tea is not only delicious but Fair Trade Certified and organic!

Stacie, drinking Peet's since 200810/2/08

barista

the shops

the shops

recomended for a customer as a great rare tea. he drank it in store then decided he wanted to buy it and asked how many tuo cha piece's were in a 1/4 tin and could not find it anywhere so for those that comeo n here looking there are 18 piece's in those tins :-) lol happy tea drinking!

Melissa4/21/08

CSR

Home Office

Home Office, CA

a really nice, smooth, earthy cup that has wonderful nutty, almond-like sweetness. This has an excellent full body and is very enjoyable all by itself, or with a little fresh steamed soy milk first thing in the morning. The first steeping is never the best in my opinion. I enjoy re-steeping this tea up to 3 times per sitting.

Jessica12/5/06

Retail/Salesperson

Portland,,OR,USA

Portland, OR

Ancient Trees Pu-Erh is the best Pu-Erh I have tasted. Some tend to take on a fishy fragrance, while others are simply cheap, but Ancient Trees eliminates these negative characteristics. It has an earthy aroma, and very full feel--it seems heavy on the tongue. This is the tea I drink when I have an upset stomach, because it is very relaxing and calming, having no hint of acidity. Coffee drinkers who are hesitant to try tea generally embrace this delicious tea. Personally, I love it.

Silas Moulton9/19/06

Coffee/Tea Specialist

Bedford, 502 Lexington,MA,USA

Bedford, MA

This is a very nice pu-ehr. It has such a range of flavors and a good overall feel to it. Tasting notes include fresh watermelon, brazil nut, very clean with contrasting earthiness and heavy body. Quickly becoming a favorite at my store.

Tommy P8/31/06

Barista/Salesperson

Lexington, Lexington, MA,MA,USA

Lexington, MA

The eyes can easily deceive us these days. And at first glance, this Organic Pu-erh seems almost a syrupy cola consistency with the color of a presspot of our darkest roast. But don't be fooled. Trust the nose. Trust your taste. Take a whiff of boiling artichoke and baking spiced bread. Take a slurping sip and realize your nose will never lie. It's crisp and clean and lighter than any chemically induced calorie free soda. The first taste seems cinnamon then pumpkin or ginger and yeast. Think Pumpkin Quickbread turned quickly to a simple green vegetable. Imagine sliding an artichoke leaf between your teeth and letting the plant sit on your tongue for a moment before swallowing, then swiftly taking a swig of filtered water. This is Ancient Tree Organic Pu-erh. Complex yet strangely so familiar. Steep it again, and you're bound to disappear in a completely different daydream. There's a